Happy Independence Day!

Yesterday we had some great food and fellowship! It was a smaller crowd at Mom's, but it was still really fun! I wish I had a digital camera sometimes, because I would like to put a picture up that I took of everyone yesterday. If I could post it here it would have Hirsch & Tracy, Amanda & Greg & kids, Mom & Rick, J.J. and Andy & me. I wish that I could have been outside more, but we still had a great day. We made ice cream in the ball thing, and it turned out GREAT! I can't wait to do it again! The weather has been great around here lately! I bought a new swimsuit the other day because when Deb comes home, I might go to the pool with everyone if I don't have to work. I've never been to the Aquatic Center here in Marshalltown, so if it works out, I'm excited to go and I hope Andy comes too. Tomorrow we have a meeting in Walnut, IA. It's about 2 1/2 hours away, and we're planning on driving there Sunday morning--not spending the night there on Saturday like we usually do. We have to be there by 8:45, so we'll probably leave here by 6:15. I'll go to bed early tonight so I can get up at 5:00 probably. I have to work on Monday morning. This will be the last time that I will have to come home late from a meeting, and then go to work on Monday morning. I won't miss that at all. This next week will be my last week working at McFarland Clinic. I've worked with McFarland off and on for almost 10 years. That's insane. They have always been good to me though. I'll probably end up there again sometime--knowing my history!

Time for a change

I saw Deb's blog today and I really liked her addition of more pictures to her blog, so I decided to change my blog appearance too. Well, it's been awhile since I've written. Pastor Hirsch was really nice last week to make sure that we could access the church's wireless signal while we are living at the parsonage. So, we now have internet at home, and I've been taking advantage of that. Maybe some of you have noticed an increase in emailing activity. Maybe you haven't. Either way, it's cool.

We grilled out tonight. I bought Andy a grill for his birthday, just one of the cheaper ones at Wal-Mart. He has really enjoyed learning how to grill. Every time we grill, we make the same appetizer. We spread tortilla chips out on a pizza pan that is covered in tin foil. Then we put salsa and shredded cheese on top of the chips. We put the pan on the grill until the cheese has melted. It is so good! We got this idea one time when we were eating with a pastor in Kansas City, KS. I'm pretty sure they put some other things on the chips like meat or something, but we like ours pretty plain. Whenever I think about shredded cheese, I remember that we never had it growing up. Mom would get a block of cheese and then use a cheese grater to shred the cheese herself. I'm happy to buy the cheese that has already been shredded for me. I haven't priced the two items to see which is cheaper, so I may be spending more than I need to.

Last weekend we went to Cabela's in Owatonna, MN before our meeting in Faribault, MN. We got one of those balls that you can use to make homemade ice cream. Have you seen them? You put the ice, rock salt, and cream into the ball and roll it around--just like a normal ball--and the rolling/throwing (but not kicking) action mixes the ingredients to make the ice cream. I'm anxious to try it. I got ingredients to try it this weekend over the 4th of July. We're going to make vanilla, I hope it turns out to be yummy!